Magnus Strømme
Expert
ExpertStyles
Red wine150
White wine68
Sparkling41
Other5
Rose3
Countries
France89
Italy56
US31
Spain25
Germany21Regions
California27Piedmont26Burgundy23Champagne18Bordeaux14Producers
Ridge Vineyards6
Cedar Ridge4
Dom. Laroche3
Giacomo Fenocchio3
Hattingley Valley Wines3
269 tasted
20.07.2024
Deep ruby with a purple hue in colour. The nose is clean, showing off a pronounced primary aroma. The wine smells of black currants, blackberries, cranberry notes, black plums, cedar wood, tobacco, slight toffee. Youthful and lively aroma. Primary in character on the palate. Tastes of black currants, blackberries, dark plums though not jammy, some herbaceousness in the background adding to the wine’s complexity.
The wine is dry, with a medium(+) acidity. The tannins are velvet, integrated, though present and firm. The structure here is showing beautifully. The alcohol is present on the higher side of medium, though not an all annoying in any sense. This is a medium(+) bodied wine. Medium(+) flavour intensity, making a well balanced, complex wine which will age gracefully. Well concentrated. Long finish.
91-90
12.07.2024
Pale, clear lemon in colour. Youthful nose showing an intense aroma, with dominated by classical Riesling primary aroma characteristics. This wine’s aroma is showing a whole spectrum of citrus fruit; lemon juice, lime, slight tangerine, followed by quince and honey melon. The wine has primary taste characteristics on the palate, featuring mouth-watering sour lemon candy, combined with grapefruit, pineapple and green apples.
The wine is dry indeed, complete overshadowed by the electric, incredibly high acidity in this wine: At this young age, the wine shows an overwhelming amount of acidity begging to lay down for a few years or in desperate need of appropriate food and aeration (Try 12+ hours, doubt you’d kill it). The alcohol is medium, very well integrated. Full bodied, complementary of the wine’s intense acidity levels, with a high flavour intensity, showing of its citrus profile wonderfully. The wine is somewhat balanced, but definitely in need of patience, though will with time be an absolute wonder of a Riesling. Loads of concentration. Very long finish.
06.06.2024
28.04.2024
Medium lemon in colour. The nose is clean and inviting. Pronounced intensity on the nose, with primary aroma characteristics, offering ripe lemons, blood orange, white flowers, slight honey with a wet stone minerality. Youthful character. Primary taste characteristics. The wine tastes of lemons, green apples, bees wax finish with a floral note.
The wine is dry. It has a medium acidity, which does sort of fall short here. The alcohol is balanced, in the background though not in hiding. The wine has a lean body which isn’t taking a whole lot of room here. What the wine is lacking, is flavour intensity. It’s balanced and fresh, but also anonymous in terms of complexity. Concentration is fair, though nothing to speak highly of. The wine feels, in all honesty, dull. The acidity level disappoint, giving the wine a pleasant but linear appearance that never quite researches climax. Long finish. I suppose this might is an example of bottle variation as some have rated this wine much higher than I have.
Sparkling wineJacquesson Cuvee 744 2020
17.04.2024
Clear, medium yellow. Fresh, zesty nose. Pronounced aroma, secondary dominate nose. The wine smells of apples, yeast, slightly brioche, salty flinty, with tangerine. Youthful. Primary taste characteristics. Tastes green apples, lime, tangerine and salt.
Dry, with laser high acidity. Medium alcohol, with a lean body and elegant structure. Medium(+) flavour intensity with a decent balance and oomph factor. Complex, though concentration could be even greater for the wine to climb further up the 90-point ladder.
15.03.2024
Deep ruby in colour. Inviting nose characterised by primary aroma components with a delicate offering of crushed red berries with a strong violet component. You get elements of dark plums, cassis, cedar, dark chocolate characteristics finishing with a touch of green (towards eucalyptus) adding to its complexity. Primary taste characteristics. Tastes of strawberries, dark plum, cassis, cedar and chocolate.
The wine is dry with a balanced medium acidity which develops linearly in the mouth leaving behind juicy freshness on the palate. The tannins are velvet, plush and seamless. Very much integrated already at this young age. The alcohol is noticeable, and does fall somewhat out of balance, though not overly so. Medium-bodied wine with a lively, yet elegant medium(+) flavour intensity. A balanced, concentrated wine with precision. Harmonious use of oak. Youthful and alive, this youngster is not shy at the moment though there is reason to suspect it will shut down soon as it mutes somewhat with extensive aeration. While it has yet to reach a serious level of complexity on the palate, those of us who appreciate the delicacy young Bordeaux offers in recent vintages will adore this one. Long finish.
08.03.2024
Deep ruby in colour. Secondary aroma characteristics dominated. Medium intense nose. The wine smells of strawberries, cassis, red cherries, pencil shavings, tobacco, slight toast, mint and milk chocolate. Youthful but such a settled aroma. Secondary taste characteristics. Tastes of strawberries, dark plums, cassis, loads of cacao, earth, oak spices.
This wine is dry with an integrated medium acidity, which does fall somewhat short. The medium(+) tannins are ripe and integrated, coupled with medium alcohol levels which falls just right. Medium-bodied with medium(-) flavour intensity. It’s in balance, the fruit lacks somewhat, still in hiding though not behind firm tannins, but by the oaky character nonetheless. The freshness does not reach the levels I’d hope for and you definitely sense the lower acidity levels. It’s still complex, and nuanced. What one must five probs for, if you like the style that is, is that this is ultra classic; old-school Bordeaux which one just can’t be upset at. Finishing with a long aftertaste.
25.02.2024
Medium, ruby-garnet in colour. Clean. Intense. Primary aroma characteristics. The smell is dominated by pure red cherry fruit, followed by strawberries, ripe raspberries, perfume, sweet liquorice, slight citrus, red roses. “Minerality-driven”. Youthful. Primary taste characteristics. On the palate, the wine takes a firmer character than the velvet nose. It tastes of red cherries, strawberries, toffee, cola, clove, slight ashy undertone before it finishes with a hint of vanilla.
The wine is dry with a medium(+) acidity. Firm tannin, though medium, not yet integrated I’d say. I like the backbone, though gives of the let-me lay-in-the-cellar-just-one-more-year-vibe. Anyway, medium alcohol levels, overall medium-bodied wine. The wine is subtle in is ways, not showing of as a fruit punch, but remaining elegant without all the earthiness. The wine is balanced, no arguing there at least. Complex too for what it is. The observation I have here is that it is young, but not too young, elegant German GG reminiscing a feminine Pinot Noir in Old World style, though this can only be German. Silky and restrained. Long finish.
17.02.2024
Deep, inky ruby with purple tint. Clean nose, reserved. Medium intensity, primary aroma characteristics. Smells of blackberries, cassis, dark plums, dark chocolate, figs, cloves, toast, vanilla. Youthful. Secondary taste characteristics. Tastes of blackberries, dark chocolate, cacao, cinnamon, slight ash, dark plums.
The wine is dry with medium acidity. Medium(+) tannin, this is a lean wine but sadly much in hiding at the moment. Beautiful integrated alcohol wise. Medium-bodied, medium flavour intensity. Very balanced for what it is! For now, complexity isn’t really anything to speak of, but it’s velvet, silky and cool. Medium finish.
The wine never really opened up in its 12+ hours in the carafe.
10.02.2024
Deep ruby in colour. Only slightly watery at the rim. Wonderfully clean nose. Intense but not overwhelming. Primary aroma characteristics. Smells of red cherries, strawberries, raspberry notes, blueberries, toast, slight vanilla and violets. So youthful and ever so refreshing. Secondary taste characteristics. Wow! The wine tastes of strawberries, black cherries, delicate plums, toast, cloves, dark chocolate finish with a spicy undertone.
The wine is dry, the tannin structure; wonderful. The tannins are so well integrated, however high you can’t not sense the velvety and beautiful oak use in this wine. High acidity, again seemingly integrated and harmonious. The alcohol is medium to medium(+). The wine is rich at the moment with a medium(+) body and packs an intense flavour intensity. It’s balanced, nuanced, detailed. Good complexity even now, this has all the stuffing needed. Long finish.
9 hours of air in the carafe before initial tasting.
02.02.2024
Opaque, the colour is a deep ruby with a purple hues. Intense, not overly oaked, clean nose this. Primary? Yes, primary aroma characteristics. The wine smells of blackberries, blueberries, plum, cloves, dried herbs. Youthful. Primary taste characteristics. Tastes of blackberries, blueberries, vanilla, cloves, dark plums, fennel.
This is a dry wine with medium acidity. It’s nicely played out, the balance between the two that is. The alcohol is medium, well integrated. High, ripe tannins. Wonderful structure this. This is a medium(+)-bodied wine with a medium flavour intensity. Wonderfully balanced, this is sublime really even at this age. Complexity for now is fair, will obviously improve, but for now it surfs on its purr dark fruit and velvety. Interesting wine, the tannins at this young age are velvet, they’re integrated, however very much present and high, but not disruptively so. It’s delightful! This is a wine I’d like to see develop for sure. Very long.
A stellar wine, with amazing QPR!
28.01.2024
Somewhat clear in colour. Deep ruby-garnet. Clean nose. Intense primary aroma characteristics. The wine smells of bramble, red plums, chocolate, vanilla, toast and violets. Youthful. Powerhouse of a wine! The wine is in its youthful and primary stage, shining in with loads of oak spices. Secondary dominant on the palate. The wine tastes of bramble, dark plumbs, cloves, loads of spice, vanilla and toast.
The wine is very dry, with a high acidity. The alcohol is seamless; barely noticeable and perfectly integrated. The fruit is pure and shines, oak use is perfect. Full-bodied with loads on intensity, whilst maintaining it focus. Very nicely balanced; acidity, tannin, flavour profile, all on their way to make a beautifully crafted wine. Somewhat unresolved as to be expected with not even a year in bottle. The wine is, however, velvet, with a stellar tannic structure which will age gracefully. Long finish.
14.01.2024
Clear, medium garnet in colour. Watery rim. Nose condition is clean, dominated by primary aroma characteristics. Pronounced intensity. The nose is charming, the aroma features red cherries, strawberries, liquorice, tar. Showing somewhat closed on the nose. Youthful character. Primary taste characteristics. The wine tastes of red cherries, ash, tar and oak. At this point, the oak is somewhat over-the-top and there is little fruit chiming through here.
The wine is very dry, this is a powerhouse of a wine. Muscular in style, the tannins at this point are high and dominant. Medium(+) acidity, which falls short compared to the tannin structure, which for me, puts this wine down a notch. Alcohol is however, fairly integrated clocking in at medium. This is a full-bodied wine, with a high flavour intensity. As for balance, for now the acidity doesn’t hold up to the tannin structure of this wine, however this will be a complex and rich wine in years to come I’m sure. For now this is a rustic showing. Very long, finish becomes smooth first after 6 hours in carafe.
91-92p
03.01.2024
Still lively despite being stored sub-optimally to say the least.
Tertiary aroma. Smells of truffle, oak spices, strawberry, clove, balsamic notes. The palate, more or less the same. Velvet, fully integrated, polished tannins. Acidity is still there, the wine is still alive and could probably be stored for a couple more years, but this wine will absolute not get better from here. Lovely wine experience nonetheless, cheers!
31.12.2023
Opaque, deep ruby in colour. Dark berry dominant nose with primary aroma characteristics. Intense. This South African cabernet smells of crème de cassis, black currants, bramble, tobacco, earth, mint and subtle iron. Youthful. Secondary notes dominating the palate. Tastes of cassis, black currants, earth and cacao.
This is a dry wine, with medium acidity. The tannins are perfectly integrated, almost non-noticeable despite the fact that this wine is supposed to be aged for 18 months in new French barriques. Medium alcohol, again perfectly integrated. The wine is lean and soothing, an easy-drinker which will please every palate. Medium flavour intensity. Tannin, acidity and body all in great balance. The wine has yet to reach an impressive amount of complexity, however balanced this wine is at this stage I’d still wait a few more years to pop the cork on this one. The only thing here is that the wine is sort of lacking structure, the integration and balanced seems to be weighted so highly that the winemaking misses some of the tannin structure that gives the wine life and length. Initially front palate, this wine has an almost sandy-like texture, however it smoothens out and goes out with a velvet medium(+) finish.
91-92p
28.12.2023
Deep garnet in colour. Clean, medium intense. Primary aroma characteristics. Smells of black currants, dark plums, cherry, eucalyptus, violets and vanilla. Youthful nose. Primary taste characteristics. The wine tastes of classic zen fruit, including cranberry, red plum, raspberry, vanilla and faintly so, orange zest.
The wine is dry, delicate, with a medium+ acidity. The tannins are velvet, the alcohol is integrated and the body is lean. The flavour intensity isn’t over-the-top with excitement, but gives a wonderful expression of Zinfandel for what it is. Nicely balanced, one could absolutely drink this wine now in 2023 with a couple of hours in the carafe. It may gain more complexity as it ages, but this Lytton Springs is juicy, fruity and lovely with a wide spectrum of different dishes. Long finish.
White wineHuet Vouvray Mont Sec 2022
20.12.2023
Clear, medium straw yellow in colour. The nose is clean, primary aroma characteristics of medium intensity. The smell features stone fruit, primary peach with shades of nectarine and hints of honey melon. It features citrusy fruit, towards lemon with notes of wet stones, with underlying white flower and faint butter. Youthful aroma character. Primary taste characteristics. The wine tastes of ripe melon, peach, with spice notes chiming through the flavour profile. It settles with a touch of honey which is very inviting as the wine evolves in your mouth.
This wine is dry, the acidity ins overpowering but definitely turns of the energy and does nicely so; medium+. The alcohol is at the middle scale, followed by a medium+ body and less intense flavour intensity. Balanced, complex - the wine is quite rich, with an oil-like texture almost. Finish long.
12.11.2023
A clear, deep garnet colour. A clean nose, classical Brunello. Medium intense, secondary aroma characteristics. Smells of strawberries, raisin, leather, fresh tobacco notes, hint of cassis and liquorice. Dried fruit and tobacco gives it an older sense on the nose, however not a particularly developed one I would say. Sangiovese always gives me a dusty note anyways. Secondary taste characteristics. This wine tastes of strawberries, subtle cherry-cola, leather, vanilla, cassis.
This wine is dry, medium(+) acidity with nicely integrated tannin. Fine structure this, alcohol is not annoying neither, at the medium(+) mark but well balanced even with the dried fruit flavour profile. Medium-bodied, couples with the medium intensity.
Well balanced, quite detailed without being layered so to speak, the “depth” isn’t quite there for me. The wine finishes with good length on the palate.
91-90p
14.10.2023
Medium garnet in colour. Clean aroma. Intense aroma, secondary characteristics dominated nose. Smells of strawberries, red cherry, ash, tar and tobacco. Secondary taste characteristics. Tastes of cherry, oak spice, tar and ash, it features orange zest with cool strawberry.
14.10.2023
Deep ruby in colour. Clean, fresh and youthful. Primary aroma characteristics. Smells of bramble, blackberry, faint black currant, vanilla, fresh tobacco and herbs. Primary taste characteristics. Tastes of blackberry, bramble, black currants and pepper. Full of life!
14.10.2023
Deep garnet in colour. The is wine smells of sweet morello cherry, sweet sour patch kids candy, orange zest and tar.
This is a bone dry wine with a fantastic balance and structure making for a unique wine and a lovely expression of Nebbiolo. Structured, balanced with a powerful punch whilst retaining the sweet sour fruit profile. Long finish.
14.10.2023
Clear, medium lemon. Clean, lean and very fine. Moderate intensity on the nose. Showing delicately secondary. Smells of white flowers, butterscotch, white peach, white pepper, nectarine and honey melon. Youthful. Primary taste characteristics. Tastes of intense lemon, butterscotch, honey melon, vanilla and white pepper.
This is a dry wine with high acidity, medium alcohol making an intense, but utterly delicious wine. The body is medium(+) definitely benefits from some aeration. Good complexity in the wine, very smooth. Long finish.
13.10.2023
Popcorn!
08.10.2023
Clear, pale lemon in colour. The nose is clean with loads of Chenin minerality. Medium intensity aroma, primary characteristics dominated. Complex nose, featuring a strong citrusy perfume, lemon juice shining though everything. Further, the wine smells of beeswax, lime zest, quince and pineapple supported by a flinty mineral touch. Youthful. Primary taste characteristics. This wine tastes of quince, ripe lemon, honey melon with a touch of salt.
This wine is dry, with a pleasing medium(+) acidity levels. Soothing, the wine initially revealed notable alcohol levels but with the power of a carafe and time, the alcohol level in the end showed medium(-) and well integrated. The body is medium, same goes for the intensity of flavour present on the palate. Balanced with a well put together fruit profile supported by beeswax and minerality makes for a well made wine! Long finish.
Red wineGuillaume Gilles Cornas 2017
27.09.2023
Dense, medium purple in colour. Clean nose. Medium intensity, secondary aroma characteristics. This wine smells of blackberries, black currants, blueberries - a bit jammy but delightedly so, leather, animalistic tones (slightly so) and herbs. Youthful. Primary taste characteristics. Tastes of black currants, blueberries, blackberries and leather.